‘Well-Seasoned’ signing

Perhaps the saddest moment for my neighborhood’s summer potlucks — which, coincidentally or not, seem to have ended — occurred when Lee Clayton got married and moved to another part of town. All of us on that one block of Bellaire Street were happy she’d met the man of her dreams, but we also were sorry to see her go.
She may have left us, but Lee Clayton Roper hasn’t abandoned the kitchen. She has written “A Well-Seasoned Kitchen,” a cookbook that is a touching memorial to her mother, Sally Clayton, and the passion they shared for good food.
Lee will be at the Tattered Cover, 2526 E. Colfax Ave., from 5:30 – 7 p.m. Tuesday (May 4) to sign copies of the 272-page volume that recently was named Best General Cookbook by Living Now. She will also serve food made from recipes that are included in the $34.95 book.
Though she didn’t know it at the time, the book began when Lee realized that her mother was suffering from early-stage memory loss. To keep Sally’s mind sharp, Lee engaged her in their shared passion for gourmet food by collecting favorite recipes.
It didn’t take long for Lee to recognize what a treasure chest they had filled. And that it was meant to be shared.
The critically acclaimed “A Well-Seasoned Kitchen” is more than just a collection of fabulous recipes. Its heart-warming narrative is something to be cherished — and not just by those whose lives have been touched by Alzheimer’s.
“In developing this cookbook, we concentrated on the type of dishes we like best: simple and delicious recipes for everyday and easy entertaining,” Lee says. “We spent years collecting recipes that are, at once, easy, beautiful and scrumptious.”
A portion from each sale goes to Colorado chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, and a representative from that group will be at the signing.